1                                                  20 June 2018

HUTT CITY COUNCIL

 

Northern Community Panel

 

Minutes of a meeting held in the Pomare Community House, 55 Farmer Crescent, Pomare, Taita on

 Wednesday 20 June 2018 commencing at 6.14pm

 

 

 

PRESENT:                        Ms D Awarau (Chair)                 Ms T Johnston

                                           Mr J Waters (from 6.30pm)         Cr G McDonald

                                           Cr L Sutton

 

APOLOGY:                      An apology for lateness from Mr J Waters was received.

 

IN ATTENDANCE:        Mr M Mercer, Divisional Manager, Community Hubs

                                           Ms D Hunter, Community Advisor Funding and Community

Contracts

Mr A Marsh, Parks Asset Manager (part meeting)

 

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

 

 

1.       APOLOGIES 

Resolved:  (Ms Awarau/Cr Sutton)                                          Minute No. NCP 18301

“That the apology received from Mr Walters for lateness be accepted.”

2.       PUBLIC COMMENT

Comments are recorded under the item to which they relate.

3.       Presentation

Presentation from Department of Corrections (18/1028)

Mr Scott Miller, Senior Advisor – Community Engagement & Reintegration, Department of Corrections gave a brief background on his role within the Department and particularly the work his team was involved in, in the community, the challenges they faced as well as reviewing if there were opportunities to work together with the Panel.     

4.       CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS    

There were no conflict of interest declarations.    

5.             MInutes

 

Resolved:  (Ms Awarau/Cr Sutton)                                           Minute No. NCP 18302

“That the minutes of the Extraordinary Northern Community Panel meeting held on Tuesday 31 October 2017, be confirmed as a true and correct record.”

6.

Northern Community Projects Fund (18/900)

Memorandum dated 24 May 2018 by the Community Advisor - Funding and Community Contracts

 

Speaking under public comment, Ms S Rei thanked members for their funding contribution of $10,000 towards costs associated with activating Walter Nash Park.  She noted that there were a number of people d utilising the equipment available at the park. 

 

The Community Advisor – Funding and Community Contracts elaborated on the memorandum.

 

Resolved:  (Cr Sutton/Cr McDonald)                                         Minute No. NCP 18303

“That the Panel:

(i)      notes the Guidelines and Criteria for the Northern Community Projects Fund which is included on the inside of the Agenda;

(ii)     agrees retrospectively to the allocation of $10,000 for the purpose of purchasing equipment to activate the Walter Nash Park; and

(iii)    agrees to allocating $60,000.00 towards the purchase of emergency generators.”

7.

Closure of Walter Nash Fitness CENTRE

 

Speaking under public comment, Mr D McLay, resident of Taita and member of the Walter Nash Fitness Centre tabled correspendence that he had received from Council’s General Manager, City and Community Services in relation his email dated 18 May 2018. He noted his particularly concerns about the lack of consultation over the closure of the Walter Nash Fitness Suite.  Mr McLay stated that he thought the Walter Nash Centre was a community facility for a disadvantaged community and that this was never meant to be a commercial venture. 

Speaking under public comment, Ms R Fairbrother, resident of Taita and member of the Walter Nash Fitness Centre raised concerns regarding the closure.  She questioned why the fitness suite was set up with a model to make money in the first place and why no consultation had been undertaken regarding its impending closure. 

Speaking under public comment, Ms M Kirkland, resident of Taita and member of the Walter Nash Fitness Centre supported the previous comments made under public comment.   She commented that Fitness Centre members most impacted should have been consulted with and that this was standard good practice in decision making in governance.           

Speaking under public comment, Ms K Dent Rennie, resident of Taita and member of the Walter Nash Fitness Centre requested that Council call for an immediate hold on the closure of the Fitness Suite and ask for a report from officers into the running of the fitness suites.  She noted that this was warranted given her perspective of membership data being inaccurate on which the closure was based.

Speaking under public comment, Ms M McGrath, resident of Taita and member of the Walter Nash Fitness Centre expressed concern that members of the community may be unable to access other facilities.  She noted that there were a number of members who had signed up at the Naenae Fitness Centre, however attended the Walter Nash Fitness Centre.  She also raised concern that only registered members of the Walter Nash Fitness Suite were made aware of the closure. 

Speaking under public comment, Mr S Fairbrother, member of the Walter Nash Fitness Centre questioned what was the weighting and evaluation given in regard to the social impact that the closure of the facility would have on the community.

Members of the public requested members to follow up on their concerns raised and also discuss with members of Fraser Park Sporstville to see whether there was an appetite for them to run a community gym. 

8.       QUESTIONS

There were no questions.    

 

 

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 7.27pm.

 

 

 

 

Ms D Awarau

CHAIR

 

 

 

CONFIRMED as a true and correct record

Dated this 19th day of November 2018